I am currently training my young cockatiel, Murray, to take to her aviator harness. So far she has responded well to training - she flies to her perch, returns to my hand, targets and is just learning how to wave and spread her wings on command. She will also put her head through the harness for a bite of millet.

However, she is in the middle of her first moult and had a few pin feathers in her crest. Most times she pulls her head back herself, and a couple of times (just once or twice) she has squawked. At first I thought she was just cranky (it's not her favourite "trick!") but now I'm wondering if she's catching a tender pin feather on the strap?!

Have any of you had this experience with your cockatiels/cockatoos/even other parrots and do you think it's worth stopping the training while she moults to avoid any bad associations with the harness?